The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and the world at your wheels-there's nothing like the freedom and exhilaration of driving with the top down. Clark Gable drove a convertible. So did Elvis, Rita Hayworth, and Gary Cooper. Jay Gatsby drove one in the book, and Thelma and Louise rode off in one in the movie. On the road, and in film, art, and literature, the convertible is more than just a car - it's a state of mind, a way of life. Automotive expert Ken Vose traces the evolution of the convertible as car and cultural icon, from the earliest ragtop to the open car of the future. Vose knows that every car (and every driver) has a story, and he recounts the best ones about classic Pierce-Arrows, Packards, Speedsters, Roadsters, Dusenbergs, and Bugattis - as well as today's Corvettes, Miatas, BMWs, Mustangs, and Prowlers. This witty tribute includes more than 125 photographs, illustrations, and other memorabilia, including rare vintage shots and art created specifically for this volume. This fast-lane celebration of the glamour, allure, and style of the ultimate dream machine is as much fun as a summer spin on an open road. Almost.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Ken Vose is a former race driver and respected automotive writer and the author of two novels about Formula One racing. His most recent nonfiction book is Blue Guitar (0-8118-1912- 4). He lives in New York City and northeastern Pennsylvania.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dream Machine Not A Car Book,
By Robert Duncan (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Convertible (Hardcover)
This is not a coffee table car book, rather it is a romantic history of rag tops from the Amphicar to Jayne Mansfield's pink Cadillac, from Eleanor Roosevelt's Fiat roadster to Clark Gable's Duesenberg, from Richard Petty's '59 Olds NASCAR convertible to James Bond's Aston-Martin and a whole lot more! I thought I knew a lot about cars and convertible's, but boy did this beautifully written and photographed book open my eyes. I bought it for myself, but my wife really enjoyed reading it. The author must have spent years doing all the research for this book and boy has he come up with some gems! Just about every page is full of surprises, great pictures, cartoons and anecdotes. This is a great Christmas or Birthday present for any adventurous guy or gal.
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In the beginning there were no convertibles. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, World War, Hiro Yamagata, Tommy Hitchcock, Plymouth Prowler, Clark Gable, Ralph Lauren, Tom Mix, Fifth Avenue, Ford Mustang, Ford Skyliner, Nicola Wood, Pebble Beach Concours, Scott Fitzgerald New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In the beginning there were no convertibles. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, World War, Hiro Yamagata, Tommy Hitchcock, Plymouth Prowler, Clark Gable, Ralph Lauren, Tom Mix, Fifth Avenue, Ford Mustang, Ford Skyliner, Nicola Wood, Pebble Beach Concours, Scott Fitzgerald New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 42
books:
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- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald on 4 pages
- Great Gatsby (Penguin Longman Reader Level 5) by Fitzgerald F Scott on 4 pages
- Great Gatsby (Everyman Classics) by F Scott Fitzgerald on 4 pages
- The Great Gatsby (Textplus) by Francis Scott Fitzgerald on 4 pages
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald on 4 pages
See all 42 books this book cites
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